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I’m bringing fall and summer together in these Halloween inspired citrus bars.  Lemon + orange + visions of candy corn dancing in my head.

Y’all, where the heck did September go?  I feel like yesterday it was August and I was whining about how I was over the summer and sooooo ready for fall.  And don’t get me wrong I am super duper ready for fall to get here and quit teasing me but what I am absolutely positively NOT ready for…is winter.  No, no we won’t talk about that right now.  I don’t want to depress myself with thoughts of winter because I have these bright, fresh, citrus-y citrus bars to keep me believing in all things fall for the time being.

When my blog besties and I were deciding on a post for this month I piped up bulldozed them with Halloween because 1) you can never start Halloween prep too early and 2) I freaking love Halloween.  The weather and the decorations and the costumes and the trick or treaters and the scary movies.  It’s perfect.

But when my original idea {Halloween cupcakes} melted…literally the frosting started melting off the top of the cupcakes because it was so hot in here and we didn’t have any room in the fridge…I scrapped that and had to think of something else.  What does one do with melted frosting and perfectly delicious cupcakes?  Cake pops.  Duh.  And when the candy melts (aff) started giving me fits because the cake pops were frozen and the candy melts were not I threw up my hands and walked away from my half finished Frankenstein head cake pops.

Lucky for you {and for my sanity} the third time was the charm this go ’round and these candy corn inspired citrus bars were born.  Candy corn is my faaaaavorite Halloween candy.  I could eat an entire bag in one sitting.  Anybody else?  No?  Just me, then?  Moving on…

So once I’d gotten candy corn something into my brain it was hard to let go.  But of all the ideas I came up with during my brainstorm sesh I didn’t like a single solitary one.  Until my friend Mary from Goodie Godmother posted her amazeballs recipe for orange curd and the light bulb came on.  Maybe some angels sang, too.  I can’t recall.  Anyway.  Citrus bars!  With a delicately flavored lemon crust, orange curd-like filling, and powdered sugar on top I was on my way to an abstract candy corn bite packed with amazing citrus flavor.

Confession: I did add a smidgeon of orange gel food coloring (aff) to the curd in order to amp up the orange color otherwise it just looked like a dirty yellow thanks to the eggs.  Food coloring is optional but highly recommended for a candy corn-esque look to really sell these bars.  I’m currently in the process of debating whether or not I want to take these bars to a group dinner with friends or hoard them all to myself.  Decisions decisions.

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Candy Corn Citrus Bars

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I'm bringing fall and summer together in these Halloween inspired citrus bars. Lemon + orange + visions of candy corn dancing in my head = this amazingly simple and delicious Halloween treat!

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Ingredients

For the Crust:

• 1 stick salted butter
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 cup flour
• 1 tsp lemon juice

For the Filling:

• 4 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice, about 3-4 oranges
• 1/4 cup flour
• Orange gel food coloring, optional

Instructions

1. In the bowl of a stand mixer cream together butter and sugar until light yellow. Add flour and mix until dough forms a ball.
2. Press dough into the bottom of a glass 8x8 baking dish lined with parchment paper and pop into the freezer for about 10 minutes.
3. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes or until crust is lightly browned.
4. While crust is cooling cream together 4 large eggs, sugar, orange juice, flour and food coloring until well mixed. Pour over top of crust and bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until filling is just set.*
5. Allow to cool completely before removing from the pan and dust with powdered sugar before serving.

Notes

*Filling should be set enough to hold it's shape when cut but still slightly wiggly/gooey

It’s a Halloween party up in here so make sure you stop by and see my blog besties’ creations, too!

9 Awesome Halloween Costumes, No Bohns About it

5 Halloween Ideas for When You’re Totally Over It, Little Blog on the Homestead

Caramel Applesauce, An Aiming High Wife

Mexican Chocolate Cake, Goodie Godmother

Candy Corn Citrus Bars, Cook. Craft. Love.